Yeah Yeah... Looking for an AGP card for christmas.

[wtfbatman]

I know there's a thread directly below mine... but it didn't really provide too much info for me.

I'm looking for an AGP vid card to upgrade from my radeon 9200 (:cool: )

System specs:

CPU: AMD 2400+
Mobo: SiS741GX
RAM: 2x256 PC2100
I know nothing about my PSU, it says nothing on it besides a bunch of numbers and something along the lines of "blah blah blah... SHALL NOT EXCEED 160W" then there's another one below it saying the same thing except this time "SHALL NOT EXCEED 280W"
So.. I don't know.
I tried searching the model number and I didn't get much...
AGI hp-p3507f5w

I'm looking to spend around $190-210
And I plan to have this until I can get my own computer with a PCI-E slot and whatnot. Which will probably be about a year or so.

I will use it mostly for gaming. I can't play any of the new games without my computer crashing at some point in time, or getting extreme lag. :( 9200 ftw.

I'm not too good at shopping around... so...

I was originally planning on buying the SAPPHIRE Radeon X800GTO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102608). But it's out of stock.... I did happen to find it on ComputerHQ (http://www.computerhq.com/Sapphire_ATI_X800GTO_AGP_256MB/100131/products/partinfo-id-567445.html)

But I want some OC forums advice and help. I'm a fan of ATI and I love their products... but would I be better of with an nVidia?

Could you also list some sites that have a good reputation like newegg so I could possibly make my decision...

Is the X800GTO any good? Or could I do better by switching up to an nVidia card or by getting a different ATI card?

Any questions.. just ask.

Thankss.

[Romulox]

That PSU will really holding you back on this one. Even a 9800pro recommends a 300w PSU and is now 2 generations old. That x800GTO won't run it requires more power .
I think the last decent card for that system would be a 9600pro, which is around 50 -$60.

Other good sites
ewiz.com
mwave.com
ebuyer.com
zipzoomfly.com
tigerdirect.com (controversial)
Are there any options you have or is the on a strict budget.
Personally I wouldn't spend to much a new rig just yet
Your other current specs aren't helping you either.
A 9600pro and and extra 512MB of ram would be good for half life 2 CS:S. DOOM3 on lower settings and bf2 on low and COD2
FEAR and the more recent games are resource hogs.
In Q2 2006 all the companies will be realeasing there new hardware hopefully by then.
Edit Also is your computer a prebuilt. This may rule out the option of a new PSU for a better video card

[Internal]

After looking at your system specs I would say get a 6600GT agp and pocket some cash or spend your entire budget on new 6800gs agp.

If you wanted to go ati don't get anything past an x800xt and maybe that's going too far.

I'm a big fan of ATI but for some reason I think going with the 6600gt and using the rest of the money to get as much ram as you could would be in your best interest.

Your machine won't be anything special but you'll be keeping her alive with just a few hundy.

[infinitevalence]

Yeah the new Albetron 6800GS would be a nice buy for you. See if you can pick up a used sparkel or fortron from the classified sor a few $$ and you should be good to go.

[wtfbatman]

Edit Also is your computer a prebuilt. This may rule out the option of a new PSU for a better video card

It was prebuilt by compaq originally, then my mobo shorted out and we got it replaced. I'm not sure if they replaced our PSU... but I'm going to go check to see if they did. They did happen to replace it.. but to nothing serious... the other one was worse..

edit: i should point out that it wasn't replaced by compaq but by cyberworks.. . i know for a fact I could have spent the $300 used to fix the PC and made it 5 times better than it is now.. Unfortunetly I did not.

Well, since it turns out I don't have the proper PSU power.. I might as well just get an ipod for christmas and just wait until i get a newer computer.

But where would i find the AGP 6800GS?


edit: this computer, overall is a family computer. I just use it the most. Rom+anyone else, would you just suggest I wait until I get money to build my own PC?

[wtfbatman]

Well, newegg has the card in stock again... should I get it from my parents from christmas and get a new power supply soon after?

This one is on sale from newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817148027 ...

any good? and is there anything i need to know about power supplies so i know to order the right kind?

[infinitevalence]

i would :) or try to find a friend with an extra PSU to use.

with PSU's look for a high amperage 12v line, make sure it has at least a 3 year warranty. if its heavy that generaly is a sign of quality. Good brands, Fortron, Sparkle, Seasonic, Zippy, Emacs, Antec, OCZ, Enermax, ThermalTake, some SilverStone.

[wtfbatman]

i would :) or try to find a friend with an extra PSU to use.

with PSU's look for a high amperage 12v line, make sure it has at least a 3 year warranty. if its heavy that generaly is a sign of quality. Good brands, Fortron, Sparkle, Seasonic, Zippy, Emacs, Antec, OCZ, Enermax, ThermalTake, some SilverStone.


so is the one i posted good, or? beacause i have nooo idea about psu's. :(

we just went christmas shopping and ****, we checked out best buy and their power supplies were expensive... 500W $110+ and i don't erally want to spend that much on a PSU.

[infinitevalence]

It might run your system, we dont know for sure, you can try it, but dont expect it to work.

[wtfbatman]

It might run your system, we dont know for sure, you can try it, but dont expect it to work.

I'm talking about the PSU i posted.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817148027

[infinitevalence]

ewww do you want to get herpies???? stay away from aspire, look for a fortron, antec, sparke, sesonic, or enermax.

[wtfbatman]

ewww do you want to get herpies???? stay away from aspire, look for a fortron, antec, sparke, sesonic, or enermax.


Like i said, i know nothing about PSU's and quality..

But i'll look at those and see if i can find a decent priced one.. Thanks :)

[infinitevalence]

np

[Romulox]

:santa: Found the perfect upgrade.

refurb 6600gt $109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814135160R
FPS PSU 350w $50 you could also get a cheaper model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104936
512 pc2100 $34 ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141173
under $200

[wtfbatman]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA21827

are the only two i could find cheap enough, any good?

and any other you would recommend?






oooooooooooooo didn't see the post above mine :)

[wtfbatman]

Thank you so much romulox... but I think I'm going to stick with the x800gto and a new PSU and some time next year... some ocz 2x512 1gb dual channel ram.

Here's what I plan to do, in case you're wondering...

I plan to pay for 1/2 the cost of the Gfx card for christmas (so my mom doesn't think she blew so much on something that I'm not going to use next year (agp is going extinct..) and then I will pay for the cost of the PSU.. Then I will end up getting the ram later.

So when I do get my new computer, I can just swap the PSU to the new one, and the ram, too.

Only downside is that I will have to leave the x800gto inside this piece... but i will probably just sell it.. :)

Thanks again romulox.. if my plan doesn't work out, I might just have to go through with that.

[Romulox]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec.hmx?scriteria=BA21827

are the only two i could find cheap enough, any good?

and any other you would recommend?

Yes both those are good psu. If you are overclocking don't buy a dual 12v rail like those. For the set up 350w is good for almost all the new cards excpt a 7800gtx, x1800xt and around there. You could also buy a higher watt psu for future builds.

[wtfbatman]

Yes both those are good psu. If you are overclocking don't buy a dual 12v rail like those. For the set up 350w is good for almost all the new cards excpt a 7800gtx, x1800xt and around there. You could also buy a higher watt psu for future builds.


I plan to overclock it... so i will def. look for a diff. PSU.

But if that psu is perfect except for the newer cards, that's fantastic.

Will it overclock well with the x800gto?

[Romulox]

Thank you so much romulox... but I think I'm going to stick with the x800gto and a new PSU and some time next year... some ocz 2x512 1gb dual channel ram.

Here's what I plan to do, in case you're wondering...

I plan to pay for 1/2 the cost of the Gfx card for christmas (so my mom doesn't think she blew so much on something that I'm not going to use next year (agp is going extinct..) and then I will pay for the cost of the PSU.. Then I will end up getting the ram later.

So when I do get my new computer, I can just swap the PSU to the new one, and the ram, too.

Only downside is that I will have to leave the x800gto inside this piece... but i will probably just sell it..

Thanks again romulox.. if my plan doesn't work out, I might just have to go through with that..

What ever upgade you do will be an improvement. Butgenerally it is best to buy a computer all at once. If your gonna wait for a year your probably gonna have the missforunute of dealing with an interface change. In a year the new AMD proc will use dd2 Intel will have ddr3 memory. I also heard there will be a new graphics card interface called PCI-E II or something like that. And I wouldn't be surprised if the new mobos need 8 pin connectors along with the main 24 pin connection.

I plan to overclock it... so i will def. look for a diff. PSU.

But if that psu is perfect except for the newer cards, that's fantastic.

Will it overclock well with the x800gto?.

Its a FSP I wouldn't see why not.


edit Opps when I mentioned future builds I didn't expect the huge time gap
edit oops again. if your overclocking don't buy a "cheap" dual rail psu.
this is a dual rail and should be fine

[wtfbatman]

What ever upgade you do will be an improvement. Butgenerally it is best to buy a computer all at once. If your gonna wait for a year your probably gonna have the missforunute of dealing with an interface change. In a year the new AMD proc will use dd2 Intel will have ddr3 memory. I also heard there will be a new graphics card interface called PCI-E II or something like that. And I wouldn't be surprised if the new mobos need 8 pin connectors along with the main 24 pin connection.

Ahhhhhhh, that sucks.... Well.. then I'll def. have to go with a cheaper PSU then...


Its a FSP I wouldn't see why not.

edit Opps when I mentioned future builds I didn't expect the huge time gap
edit oops again. if your overclocking don't buy a "cheap" dual rail psu.
this is a dual rail and should be fine

So the one you posted will be good for OC'ing and handling the card?
Even if it is the dual rail?

Or would you suggest something else for what I plan to do?

[Romulox]

Yes it will be good , I'm sorry for the confusion.There are many people on this forum who would recommend this brand too.

This is what happens when you stay up too late.
You start thinking about too many things and only half of them get written down.

Look at this poll for Fortron
http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?t=207712

[Gabkicks]

i only have a 300watt psu... u guys really think i'd need a 480watt to run it with my system? i found one for 15 bucks on newegg. i'm getting the x800gtoAGP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817170012

[infinitevalence]

Buying a cheap PSU puts your system at risk, why spend 300-400 and then rely on 1 $15 componant to keep it all running. If you really dont have the $$ to spend on a PSU then i would suggest not upgrading until you do. Or at the very least getting a better quality PSU even if its lower wattage. See if you can find something decent in the 350-400w range from Fotron, Sparkle, Zippy, Emacs, Antec, Enermax, or Seasonic.

[Valk]

you dont have to worry soo much about power with 6600GT cards. they are able to function very well without external power at all, and exceptionally if they do have it.
I didnt realize it one time, but i nudged the power loose on mine while working inside. I clicked out of a message that came up on windows startup without reading it and got right back into playing ffxi. still ran great without stability problem.
So you can get that card now and sit on it while you shop around for a better psu to do the job.
My partner has a similar machine to you, her's handles the card without incident. you dont need to invest in too much for that box, a $30 fsp will do the job very nicely, I just dont like them because the fans are noisy on a lot of them.

[wtfbatman]

FPS PSU 350w $50 you could also get a cheaper model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104936

I found this one (below) for a bit more, but it's 400W, do you think it would be better to fall back on 50 more watts, or just stick to the 350?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104935

Thanks for all the help, I might just buy the card, then wait a bit to see if ti works, then if it doesn't.. i'll pick up a new PSU.

[Gabkicks]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023. i ended up buying this one. i probaby wont recieve my videocard and psu untill wendsday though. :shrug: its supposed to be a good psu.

[wtfbatman]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023. i ended up buying this one. i probaby wont recieve my videocard and psu untill wendsday though. :shrug: its supposed to be a good psu.


if anyone can confirm that thermatake makes good psus?

becuase i might just get this one.. becuase that's a hella good deal

[grumperfish]

Everything I've ever bought from TT with a fan has been loud. I used to hum along with my roommate's Xaser to fall asleep. I'll probably get flamed pretty bad for this, but I've had great experiences with Rosewill's RP line of psu's. My cousin has been running the RP 550w (and oc'ing) for about a year now with no problems: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182010

+3.3V@30A, +5V@50A, +12V@35A, -5V@0.5A, -12V@1A, +5VSB@2.5A :)

[Gabkicks]

in many reviews, they say this thermaltake fan is really quiet. i should get it by tuesday or wendsday. then i can confirm just how quiet it is.

[wtfbatman]

Bump?

Romulox, infinitevalence, valk? What do you guys think on that TT psu? TT a good brand for them?

[infinitevalence]

Thermaltake is a decent brand, not the best but not the worst.